8.30.2006

Ottawa Animation Festival 06

The Ottawa International Animation Festival is coming up next month and I will definitely be attending. The dates are September 20th - 24th. This will be my third year in a row and so far I haven't tired of it. FYI, the OIAF is the largest international animation festival this side of the globe. (Although Portland's brand spankin' new Platform Festival is gearing up to be a close second.) One new feature for the festival this year has been the introduction of their own podcast. It's been an interesting one so far, featuring several of the "Signal Films" (the short intro films before each and every screening), interview with animator John Straiton, as well as drawings of Norman McLaren. Click HERE for more information and how to subscribe.

OIAF recently announced their schedule (click HERE), and it looks to be a great festival. Some of the highlights:

Ol' pal Joel Trussell's War Photographer will be screened, as well as Michael Sporn's The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (award-winning film based off the book that won the 2004 Caldecott Medal—there's a short clip featured on his site). Also, in the student categories, I noticed some entries from the GOBELINS school in France. If you haven't seen what those students are capable of, then by all means check out their site. You will be amazed.

There's going to be a Bob Clampett Retrospective (always a fave of mine), and screenings of Bruno Bozzetto's short films as well as his famous film, ALLEGRO NON TROPPO, which, sadly, I've never seen. I know, I know, I'm an idiot. Also, there'll be a screening called Cultoons! Strange, Rare and Lost Cartoons! Sounds promising. And here's one for the John K. fans: John Kricfalusi Presents: Ren and Stimpy: The Lost Episodes. I've seen two of those episodes back in Ottawa two years ago and they were raunchy.

If you're thinking about going to Ottawa this year, then please get in touch with me! Would love to meet some readers. I'll be going this year under the auspices of Drawn!—speaking of which, I'll finally get to meet Drawn!'s creator, John! Now, I'll be able to find out if he's really a robot in human clothing. Truth will be told.